Hair shedding can be stressful, especially because it’s hard to know when you’re losing more hair than is average or normal. Gary Goldenberg, a board-certified dermatologist, says that losing as many as 100 strands a day is standard.
But when you start noticing significant hair loss in the shower, on your pillow, or your brush, it’s time to visit a dermatologist for evaluation. Dermatologist-recommended hair growth treatments could be the exact answer for you.
We spoke with four doctors to bring you the best options available today.
What Causes Hair Loss?
The most common cause for hair thinning and hair loss is simply genetics, says Goldenberg. The genetic male or female pattern hair loss is extremely common and can start to manifest as early as in your 20s.
Medical conditions, hormonal issues, and the natural process of aging can also cause severe hair thinning and loss.
PRP Treatment
Goldenberg explains that PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatments harvest the power of your own body to help hair grow and support hair health. During the procedure, blood is drawn and the PRP from the blood is injected into the area of the scalp with hair loss.
Goldenberg notes that PRP does several things to improve hair loss. For one, it contains growth factors that provide support for hair that’s already present and for the dormant hair follicles, stimulating them to grow.
It also contains vascular growth factors. These increase circulation to the scalp, providing hair with the nutrition and oxygen needed for rapid growth.
Because PRP contains a range of proteins that speed up tissue repair, doctors will often use this therapy when hair loss is a result of pattern baldness. PRP can be used as a stand-alone treatment or combined with other hair loss treatments to help create lasting, healthy hair.
For example, minoxidil can be used to complement PRP hair treatments long-term.
Minoxidil
Possibly the most famous hair loss treatment, Rogaine is highly successful at preventing hair loss and promoting new growth. Rogaine is a topical solution or foam that blocks the type of testosterone that causes hair miniaturization, says Goldenberg.
Its active ingredient, minoxidil, is an FDA-approved topical treatment for male and female pattern hair loss. It is available over-the-counter and does not require a prescription.
Minoxidil comes as both a solution and foam base, which needs to be applied to the scalp at bedtime. Research has found that minoxidil prevents the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
DHT has been linked explicitly to hair loss in multiple studies.
Vitamin B Complex Injections
Goldenberg explains that vitamin B complex injections can drastically help to promote healthy hair. Many cannot absorb vitamin B from their diet, so injections may be the absolute best way to receive this vitamin, he notes.
Even patients with normal vitamin B levels can still benefit from these injections when it comes to hair loss.
Vitamin Supplements
Clinical trials suggest that certain supplements and vitamins—like vitamins D and E, as well as protein-rich collagen—can be highly effective in promoting hair growth. Vitamin supplements like Viviscal and Nutrafol have also been shown to strongly support a healthy mane.
According to Goldenberg, biotin, zinc, and copper supplementation can also help to heavily improve hair quality and growth.
Thermadome
Thermadome is a light device that one wears at least twice weekly for at least 20 minutes, says Goldenberg. Some even wear it daily because you literally can’t overdo it.
It stimulates hair to grow by rapidly shuttling nutrition and oxygen to the scalp. Low-level laser light has been used to regrow bone and tissue for years.
This same technology is now used for the stimulation of hair follicles. Thermadome is a kind of helmet containing laser lights that target the stem cells at the base of hair follicles.
Lasercap
The Lasercap is a prescription at-home FDA-approved device. It uses low light therapy to intensely stimulate hair follicles.
The device is worn for 30 minutes, three times per week. Dermatologists often recommend this device in combination with PRP treatments.
Laser therapies are still being heavily studied to understand their complete impact on hair growth. However, research strongly suggests that improved cellular activity and reduced inflammation are involved.
Proper Scalp Cleansing
It is incredibly important to keep your hair clean to encourage healthy growth. Shampooing often is very important, says Friese.
Cleansing the hair follicles and keeping them free of oils, product build-up, and free radicals will help create a healthy scalp environment.
Scalp Massage
Scalp massage is another amazing way to encourage hair growth. It helps heavily increase blood flow and circulation to the follicles, making them stronger and discouraging miniaturization.
You could use a dedicated scalp massager or simply your fingers. Take extra time to massage your scalp while you shampoo.
A Well-Balanced Diet
Not getting the nutrients you need can quickly lead to hair loss. Poor nutrition can cause malabsorption as well as severe inflammation in the body.
Inflammation does not allow the cells to repair completely, which results in a massive weakening of the cells. When this reparative process does not occur, it causes cell damage, which results directly in hair loss.
Foods high in proteins and healthy fats are the absolute key to a good diet. Staying away from processed foods and those high in sugar is also very important.
Low-Stress Lifestyle
Keep in mind that stress can also be a massive leading factor in hair loss. Working to create a low-stress lifestyle can be a powerful tool in promoting hair growth.
Practice yoga, meditate, or simply enjoy a relaxing bath. Hydration levels also have a major impact on overall health, so drink plenty of water.
Hair Transplantation or Hair Replacement Surgery
Depending on the severity and cause of your hair loss, your doctor may suggest a more permanent solution like surgery. Hair replacement surgery is a cosmetic procedure and includes micro-grafting, slit grafting, and scalp reduction.
Follicular Unit Excision and Extraction (FUE) is a surgical method used to obtain donor hair one graft at a time. Microscopically Dissected Elliptical Excision (MDEE) harvests hair from the donor zone on the back of the head.
It is then carefully transplanted into the balding or thinning areas of your scalp.
Spironolactone
Spironolactone is an FDA-approved prescription medication that treats androgenetic alopecia in women. It slows down the production of male sex hormones, says Green.
Spironolactone is meant for females with hair loss due to hormonal imbalance. It works by actively obstructing the androgen receptors, which control DHT levels.
FAQ
What causes hair loss?
According to experts, hair loss can be the result of heredity or a completely normal part of aging. Some other causes for hair loss are severe vitamin deficiencies, new medications, recent surgeries, extreme stress, and hormonal changes.
Telogen effluvium is the second most common type of hair loss seen in dermatology practices. It’s usually related to a massive stressful event, pregnancy, or illness.
Luckily, this specific type of hair loss is usually temporary.
When should I consult a doctor about my hair loss?
If you are beginning to notice your hair shedding or thinning you should consult your doctor immediately. It is very important to have a board-certified dermatologist examine you and heavily diagnose the root cause.
Getting proper treatment quickly will minimize the overall impact and give you a much better chance of growing back your hair.
How much hair loss is too much hair loss?
Most hair shedding is due to the normal hair cycle, and losing 50-to-100 hairs per day is absolutely no cause for alarm. However, if you are losing anything more than this, you should consult your doctor right away.